Template · free

Meeting minutes template — with an example.

Good minutes record what was decided and who does what by when. Here you get a template as a Word file, a completed example and the tips that make people actually read your minutes.

Go to template Have it filled in automatically

Last updated: 3 October 2026 · by juunote · juunit GmbH

What goes into meeting minutes

Action minutes are enough for most meetings: they record outcomes, not every sentence.

Header detailsTitle, date, time, place or tool, attendees, apologies and who is taking the minutes.
AgendaThe items that were discussed — in the order of the meeting.
SummaryWhat it was about and what came out of it, in two or three sentences. Many people only read this part.
DecisionsWhat applies from now on, stated clearly: “We will do X” rather than “X was discussed”.
TasksWhat, who and by when — each task with exactly one person responsible.
Open items and next meetingWhat was postponed and when things continue.

Template to fill in

Download it as a Word file, print it or paste it straight into Word, Outlook or OneNote — tables and headings stay intact.

meeting-minutes-template.docx Word file

Meeting minutes

Title
Date, time
Place or tool: e.g. Room 2 or Microsoft Teams
Attendees
Apologies
Minutes taken by

1. Agenda

2. Summary

What was it about, and what is the outcome? Two to three sentences.

3. Decisions

4. Tasks

What	Who	By when

5. Open items

6. Next meeting

Distribution

Example: what it looks like filled in

A 28-minute team meeting, written up as action minutes.

Completed exampleProduct team meeting · 6 OctoberMeeting room · 28 min · 5 attendees

Summary

Release 1.1 is out and the feedback is mostly positive. Next focus: multi-language support.

Topics

Release 1.1 — stable, two minor bugs open
Multi-language support — clarify scope
Holiday planning for December

Decisions

English first, more languages in 2027
Code freeze on 15 Dec

Tasks

MKEstimate scope of multi-language supportWed, 8 Oct
LSFill in the holiday listFri, 10 Oct

Tips

How to get your minutes read

Send them the same day — By the next morning at the latest. After that, nobody remembers whether they’re accurate.
Outcomes, not transcripts — Who said what rarely matters — what applies always does.
Tasks with a name and a date — “We’ll take care of it” is not a task. “Lisa, by Friday” is.
The same structure every time — For recurring meetings, everyone finds what they’re looking for straight away.
Keep it short — One page is enough for most meetings. Details belong in attachments.

With juunote

Or let the minutes write themselves.

juunote listens in during the meeting, transcribes on your computer and fills in exactly this structure — with a summary, decisions and tasks with due dates. You check it and send it.

No bot in the meeting
Transcription on your computer
Finished minutes in your template

Try free for 14 days How it works

Questions

Questions and answers

What is the difference between action minutes and detailed minutes?

Action minutes record only outcomes: decisions, tasks and open items. Detailed minutes also describe how the discussion went and who took which position. For most meetings, action minutes are enough.

Who should take the minutes?

Ideally someone who isn’t chairing. The person leading the meeting can then focus on the discussion — or a tool like juunote listens in and nobody has to type.

Do meeting minutes need to be signed?

Not for ordinary meetings. Owners’ meetings, club meetings and shareholders’ meetings, however, have their own rules on content and signatures.

Can I record the meeting to write the minutes?

Only if everyone involved agrees. In Germany, recording private spoken words without consent is a criminal offence (§ 201 StGB). Say at the start that notes are being taken, and ask.

How quickly should the minutes be sent out?

Ideally the same day, within 24 hours at the latest — while everyone still remembers and mistakes get noticed.

Note: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. For your specific case, please ask your legal or data protection adviser.